James Norman

December 26, 1928 - January 14, 2017

James “Jim” Sylvan Norman, age 88, passed away at Gables Care Center in Wayzata, MN on Saturday, January 14, 2017. During his final days, Jim was attended by many of his immediate family members who were able to surround him with their care, love and gratitude as he moved into the hands of our Heavenly Father. A celebration of Jim’s life will be held at the Spirit Lake United Methodist Church in Spirit Lake, IA on Saturday, January 21, 2017. Visitation will begin at 9:30 am and his service will start at 11 am. A reception and light lunch will follow the celebration. His burial service will then take place at 1:30 pm at Memory Gardens Cemetery where Jim will be honored as a US Veteran and will be laid to rest next to his father and mother. Jim was born on December 26th, 1928 to LeRoy “Babe” Norman and Vera J. Norman on a farm in Everly, Iowa. He was the third of the five sons born to Babe and Vera. In 1936, the Norman family moved to Spirit Lake, IA where later Jim was a graduate of Spirit Lake High School. He attended college at the University of South Dakota and was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. As the Korean War broke out, Jim enlisted in the US Air Force and was stationed at Nellis Air Force base in Las Vegas, NV. In January 1951, Marney Hinn, the love of Jim’s life, boarded a train bound for Las Vegas, NV and upon her arrival, married Jim at The Little Church of The West on January 27, 1951. This was the beginning of 66 years of a loving, caring and happy marriage. Immediately following his honorable discharge from military service in November 1953, Jim, Marney and their toddler son moved to Primghar, IA. There they opened a Ford Dealership in December 1953 and proudly served as business owners in the Primghar community until May 1999. In February 2014, Jim and Marney moved to Wayzata, MN to be closer to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jim was preceded in death by his father and mother, his younger brother Bill and his older brother Stan. Jim is survived and blessed by a large legacy of family, his wife Marney, two brothers Morris and Jack, three children, Jim (wife Patty), Jane (husband Tim) and John (wife Beth), 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren (with more to come). Jim’s family is planning to install a memorial in his honor in the lakes area as Jim loved growing up near and spending time on the Iowa Great Lakes. Any donations received will be used for this purpose. Memorials may be sent to Jim Norman Memorial Fund, C/O Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home, PO Box 272, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360.